The Three levels of Fasting

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The three levels of fasting, as delineated by the great twelfth century scholar, Ibn Qudaamah al-Maqdisi:

Level One

This is the most basic level of fasting, and it is to refrain from the desires of the stomach and private parts. In other words, to refrain from food, drink and sexual relations. This is the minimum requirement of our fasting.

Level Two

In addition to complying with the minimum requirements, we lower our gaze and prevent our tongues, hands, feet, hearing, eyes and the rest of our body parts from committing sinful acts.

Level Three

This highest level of fasting is reached by fulfilling the requirements of the first and second levels, as well as striving to pull our hearts away from yearning after the world and its affairs, and all those thoughts that distance us from Allah(SWT)

So come on Brothers and Sisters! Let’s make this a level three Ramadhan. Let’s aspire to that highest level of fasting. After all – the Prophet (SAW) told us to ask for nothing less than the highest level of Paradise – Firdaws!